There have been a lot of Superman stories in the past 75 years, but if you’re looking to get caught up on everyone’s favorite superhero (in preparation for the release of Man of Steel , for instance), these are the stories that you definitely need to read.
Superman: Earth One - 2010
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Drawn by Shane Davis
Superman: Earth One is one of the most recent iterations of the hero's origin story, so it's a great place to start if you're not familiar with the character. But, since pretty much everyone is at least a little familiar with the character, it's a good place to get a little deeper into his backstory. The graphic novel depicts the last moments of Krypton, like you'd expect to see, but also follows Clark Kent as he moves to Metropolis to try to find his place in the world, and Superman as he takes on his first major opponent. The Earth One books don't follow the exact same continuity as the rest of the DC Universe, so there are some differences between this Superman and the Superman from the monthly titles, but the main themes are all still there.
Via: dc.wikia.com
Via: comics-x-aminer.com
Superman: Secret Identity - 2004
Written by Kurt Busiek
Drawn by Stuart Immonen
Another origin story of sorts, this is an alternate telling of the Superman story in which Clark Kent exists in a world where Superman is a comic book hero, much as he is in our world. Clark starts to develop powers similar to the fictional Superman's powers, and has to balance his personal life and his new life as a superhero — all while keeping his identity hidden from journalists and the government (both of whom are much more scrupulous than their fictional counterparts).
Via: dccomics.com
Via: kotaku.com.au
